Lightweight portable vacuum cleaner



Aug. 8, 1967 w. E. BOYD 3,334,370

LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 17, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILTON E. BOYD Hl-S ATTOR NEY Aug. 8, 1967 w. E. BOYD 3,334,370

LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet :1

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. WILTQN -E.. BOYD HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 8, E967 w. E. BOYD LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER 5 Sheets$heet Filed Nov. 17, 1964 D m Y ilILL m E T N r NE R WEN H T M T L A w m N H N Y B ON i N 9 ON mm mm N m .i

United States Patent 3,334,370 LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Wilton E. Boyd, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 411,760 6 Claims. (Cl. -327) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to lightweight portable cleaners of the type which are carried and manipulated by hand.

In recent years manufacturers of vacuum cleaners have recognized the existance of a consumer market for a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner which could be carried by hand and used for such odd jobs as cleaning car interiors, draperies, and numerous other jobs for which a floor or canister-type cleaner would be too heavy or too cumbersome. One of the lightweight cleaners introduced on the market comprises a one-piece cylindrical housing for the motor and a long tapered snout attached to the housing, the snout having the suction inlet for the cleaner at its tip and a filter bag within the body of the snout. A cleaner of this type has certain disadvantages: (1) the working element of the cleaner forms a part of the cleaner housing and hence is bulky and noninterchangeable; (2) the mouth of the filter bag surrounds the suction inlet in the barely accessible forward end of the snout interior and, thus, is difiicult to remove and replace; (3) the onepiece cylindrical housing for the motor may necessitate involved and expensive procedures for assembling the internal components of the cleaner within the housing.

Another cleaner has an external filter bag sealed around the blower outlet of the cleaner. With this filter arrangement a secondary outer bag is required to minimize the unattractive appearance presented by the filter bag. This secondary outer bag increases the cost of the filter components of the cleaner and is also an added inconvenience to the user when it is desired to replace or empty the filter bag. Perhaps even more important, this arrangement filters the air only after it has been drawn through the motor for cooling purposes. Thus, dirt is deposited around the motor brushes and in other undesirable locations within the motor, this deposition having an eventual deleterious effect on motor operation.

A third type of lightweight portable vacuum cleaner which has appeared on the market comprises a cast metal motor housing and a one-piece cast fan housing and nozzle. The fan in this type of cleaner is of the centrifugal type, drawing air into the axial inlet in the rearward direction through the cleaner suction inlet and in the for-' ward direction through the motor housing to provide a flow of cooling air over the motor. It is manifest that with this type of cleaner high suction losses will be incurred at the suction inlet due to the fact that a part of the fans output is employed solely to cool the motor. Also, machines of this type utilizing cast metal housing parts are apt to be excessively heavy.

At least one prior art patent in this field shows a portable vacuum cleaner having an airflow which is forced to travel twice the full axial length of the cleaner, once in traversing the filter bag, and a second time in passing through the fan-filter-motor unit. Such a lengthened airflow will generate excessively high friction losses within the cleaner, with resultant diminished suction available at suction inlet of the cleaner.

It is an object of my invention to provide a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner having a rigid, compact, and highly maneuverable construction.

' It is another object of my invention to provide a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner having a housing consrtuction which facilitates assembly therein of the internal components of the cleaner.

. It is a further objectof my invention to provide a light- 3,334,370 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 'ice weight portable vacuum cleaner having a construction which provides an airflow through the cleaner of minimum length and maximum motor cooling efliciency.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner which is quiet in operation and inexpensive to produce.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds. The subject matter which constitutes my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Briefly, in carrying out the objects of my invention, in one form thereof, I provide a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner having a slender, compact, box-like construction. The internal components of my cleaner are ensconced within a lightweight molded plastic housing comprising a pair of mating shell halves. The housing has integral, inwardly projecting portions defining various pockets, grooves and compartments which receive the motor and fan unit, the filter bag, the switch assembly, a blower coupling assembly, and an orifice cone which is disposed between the fan intakeand the filter bag to prevent the bag from being drawn into the intake of the fan. The split shell construction of the cleaner housing provides a means by which the internal components can be assembled and inexpensively within the housing. A highly efiicient airflow for cooling the motor is provided by disposing the motor and centrifugal fan assemblies within a cylindrical can. The can and a dished diffuser disposed concentrically therein guide the airflow from the fan axially rearwardly. Located around the motor and within the can is an annular member having radially inwardly curved blades which direct the rearwardly flowing air inwardly over and through the motor assembly.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of my cleaner showing the internal components in place within the cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the assembled cleaner taken on a horizontal plane through the center of the cleaner, with a part of the motor assembly broken away to show the blower coupling assembly.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken on lines 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken on lines 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is the lower portion of a section view taken on lines 5-5 in FIG. 2, with an area broken away.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to FIG. 1, it will be seen that I provide a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner having a slender, compact, box-like construction. A detailed description of the construction of my cleaner follows, each component of the cleaner being described roughly in the order in which the air flowing through the cleaner touches that component.

The housing for my cleaner comprises a pair of mating shell halves, a right half 1 and a left half 2 (when viewed from the top and front of the cleaner). The housing is open at its forward end, a cover 3 being provided to close the open end. The cover 3 is easily removed from or assembled upon the housing by means of a toggle clamp 4. The clamp 4 is biased into the closed position by a U-shaped overcenter spring 5. The outturned legs 6, 7 of the spring 5 are rotatably mounted in eyes (not of the cover 3, the cover 3 can be pivoted free of the housing from its position beneath an overhanging lip 10' integral with the forward end of the housing. A month or:

air inlet 11 is formed integrally with the cover 3 and serves to receive the male end of a tubular wand or hose attached to the cleaner during use.

In order to cool the motor with filtered, .rather than unfiltered, air, I provide a filter means at the forward end of the cleaner upstream of the motor. Viewing FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, and especially FIG. 2, it will be seen that my filter means is a filter bag 12 located in an enclosure 13 formed in the forward end of the housing. The mouth of the bag 12 is sealed around the air inlet 11 in the cover 3. A rubber gasket 14 on a rectangular frame 15 disposed in the mouth of the bag 12 is supported upon a ledge 16 integral with the inner periphery of the open end of the housing. When the cover 3 is drawn in place on the housing by the toggle clamp 4, the gasket 14 is deformed into sealing engagement with the ledge 16 and the cover. Thus, no air can be drawn into the cleaner housing without passing through the filter bag 12. A rubber one-way valve 17 comprising essentially a resilient flap 18, serves to close an inner end of the air inlet 11 when the cleaner is not operating, thus preventing dirt trapped in the bag 12 from escaping from the housing.

When the cleaner is operating and the filter bag 12 is fully inflated, the bag 12 might come into contact with the walls 19 of the enclosure 13, thus, smothering the bag 12. To preclude this possibility, a number of integral spaced ribs 20 are provided, projecting from the enclosure walls 19 into the enclosure 13 (see FIG. 3). These ribs 20 hold the bag 12 away from the walls 19 of the enclosure 13 and form channels 21 through which the influent air may leave the filter bag enclosure 13. The ribs 20 additionally function to give structural support to the walls 19 of the enclosure 13.

It will be evident from the drawings that the filter bag enclosure 13 is formed by the walls 19, the cover 3, and an integral partition 22 extending transversely across the interior of the housing. It is desirable that the enclosure 13 be sealed off from the outside in order that no air may leak into the enclosure during operation of the cleaner. To effect such a seal, a groove 23 is formed in the left shell half 2 and a flange 24 on the right shell half 1 along the junction line between the shell halves which define the enclosure 13 for the filter bag 12. When the mating shell halves 1, 2 are joined, the groove 23 receives the flange 24 in a slight interfering fit; the joint thus formed is effective to preclude entry of outside air into the enclosure 13.

The filtered air is then drawn through an aperture in the partition 22, the edge of which is indicated at 25. A truncated conical grating 26 is disposed in the aperture to extend the filtering surface of the bag 12 and also to prevent the bag 12 from being drawn therethrough. The grating 26 has an annular flange 27 which is held between the shell halves 1, 2 in an annular groove 28 formed in the edge of the aperture. The grating 26 is provided with angularly spaced holes 29 which admit the filtered air from the enclosure 13 into the aperture in the partition 22. By the fact of the truncated conical shape of the grating 26, the bag 12, when inflated, will not block the holes 29 in the grating 26 and prevent the filtered air from passing through the aperture.

In the interior of the rear section of the housing on the opposite side of the partition 22 from the filter ba-g enclosure 13, a motor-fan compartment 30 is formed. Referring especially to FIG. 2, the motor assembly will be seen at 31 and a centrifugal fan at 32 mounted on the forward end of the motor shaft. It is evident from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the motor assembly 31 and the fan 32 are positioned within a cylindrical air deflecting can 33. Vibration and noise generated within the can 33 are isolated from the cleaner housing by means of a lining of insulation 34 covering the inner surfaces of the side walls 35 of the compartment 30, and by an annular molded rubber gasket 36 embracing the forward end of the can 33. The insulation 34 completely covers all exposed surfaces of compartment 30 to flameproof the plastic body shells 1 and 2 in case of fire in the motor.

As shown by the arrows in FIG. 2, the filtered air exits from the filter bag enclosure 13 through the aperture in the partition 22 and enters the axial inlet 37 of the fan 32 through an opening 38 in the forward end 39 of the can 33. A portion of the gasket 36 is compressed between the rear surface of the partition 22 and the forward end 39 of the can 33, forming a seal which insures that all air flowing through the aperture in the partition 22 enters the inlet 37 of the fan 32.

Tracing further the airflow diagram illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the filtered air entering the axial inlet 37 of the fan 32 is thrown radially outwardly against the inner surface of the can 33. The airflow is guided ax ially rearwardly by air deflecting means comprising the inner surface of the can 33 and the outer surface of a dished diffuser 40. The diffuser 40 is supported upon a forward portion (not shown) of a cast metal bearing retainer having an annular body 41 fitting within the open end of the can 33. The forward portion of the bearing retainer which supports the diffuser 40 also retains the bearings for the forward end of the motor shaft. This forward portion is integral with and supported by a pair of diametrically opposed arms, one of which is shown at 42, extending forwardly and radially inwardly from the annular body 41 of the bearing retainer.

For the purpose of deflecting the airflow from the fan 32 inwardly over and through the motor assembly 31 to cool heated motor components, the annular body 41 of the bearing retainer is provided with a series of angularly spaced, radially inwardly curved blades 43. The airflow whirling rearwardly between the diffuser 40 and the inner surface of the can 33 is caught by the blades 43 and directed radially inwardly over and through the motor assembly 31 (see FIG. 4). It is evident from the drawing and the above description that the can 33, diffuser 40 and the blades 43 on the retainer combine to create a highly effective and eflicient means for guiding the airflow for maximum cooling of the motor components.

Bolted to the annular body 41 of the bearing retainer is a cast support member having a rear portion 44 which serves to hold the rear bearings for the motor shaft and side portions 45 which support the motor brushes 46 and associated assemblies.

A series of projections integral with the cleaner housing, one of which is shown at 47, extend from the rear wall 48, surrounding and defining an unobstructed rectangular area on the wall 48. Supported in this area by the projections 47 is a rectangular rubber gasket 49. The gasket 49 receives in a circular recess the rear portion 44 of the support member, functioning to isolate within the housing some of the vibration and noise generated by the motor.

In order to provide exhaust outlet means for exhausting the airflow from the motor compartment 30, an offset portion 50 of the rear wall 48 has a circular exhaust outlet aperture 51 formed therein (see FIGS. 2 and 5). A molded blower coupling member 52 is held in the aperture 51 between the mating shell halves 1, 2 of the housing. The blower coupling memberSZ comprises a tubular body 53 having openings 54 which admit air into the coupling member 52. Each of the openings 54 is divided by spaced bars 55 which prevent objects from being inserted through the coupling member 52 and into the interior of the cleaner. The inner end 56 of the tubular body 53 of the coupling member 52 likewise has an opening 57 divided by bars 58 for admitting air into the coupling member 52. The air passing into the coupling member 52 through openings 54 and 57 is exhausted for the most part through the axial exhaust outlet 59 at the rear most end of the tubular body 53. A portion of the air exhausts through aligned, generally triangular holes in the bottom of the tubular body 53 and the housing, designated 60 and 61, respectively. From the location of the holes 60, 61 and the axial exhaust outlet 59, it will be evident that air may exhaust from the, cleaner. no matter what position the cleaner might be placed in upon a flat surface. When the cleaner is not in use, the holes 60, 61 function as a means by which the cleaner can be hung on a wall projection.

A backplate 62, integral with the rear of the tubular body 53 of the coupling member 52, assists in locating and stabilizing the coupling member 52 in the exhaust outlet aperture 51. For the purpose of holding the coupling member 52 in the exhaust outlet aperture 51, an arcuate lug 63 is formed projecting from the tubular body 53 of the coupling member 52 in spaced relationship with respect to the backplate 62. The lug 63 and the backplate 62 form a channel which receives a portion of the perimeter of the outlet aperture 51. Thus, when the mating shell halves 1, 2 are brought together, the blower coupling member 52 is retained securely in the aperture 51.

A spring finger tool holder 64 is riveted upon the backplate 62 and is positioned parallel to the outer surf-ace of the rear wall 48 of the housing in order to receive an auxiliary tool forced over the tool holder.

A hollow handle is formed integrally with-the cleaner housing across the top of the housing, right and left half shells of which are shown at 65 and 66, respectively, (see particularly FIGS. 1 and 3). A recess is formed in the rear of the handle to receive a C-shaped clip 67 which serves to store a wand or hose section along the top of the handle. The clip 67 is rotatable upon a pin 68 to an operative position in which resilient arms 69, 70 of the clip 67 extend from the top of the handle, or to an inoperative position in which the outer surfaces of the arms 69, 70, lie flush with the outer surface of the handle. When in the operative position inturned hands 71 on the arms 70 of the clip 67 grasp and hold the wand or hose section after it has been snapped between the arms 70. A groove 72 formed in the rearmost interior wall 73 of the recess receives projections on the clip 67 (not shown) to form a detent which serves to retain the clip 67 in either the operative or inoperative position.

Adjacent the forward end of the handle a pocket is formed between the mating shell halves 1, 2 the pocket receiving a switch assembly 74 (see FIG. 1). A switch operator 75 projects through an opening 76 in an escutche'on plate 77 on the housing.

Electrical leads 78 running to the switch assembly 74 from a point where the supply cord enters the housing and from the motor are ensconced in the left half shell 66 of the handle, as shown in FIG. 3. I

Electrical leads 79 running from the motor to the switch assembly 74 and the supply cord fit into slots 80 molded into wall 81 of left half shell 2.

The mating shell halves 1, 2 of the housing are secured together by -a plurality'of screws 82 which pass through guide lugs 83 integral with the left shell half 2 and screw into threads molded into corresponding lugs in the right shell half 1. The blower coupling member is anchored more firmly in the exhaust outlet aperture 51 by. means of a single screw 84 entering the backplate 62 of the blower coupling member 52 through the right shell half 1 of the housing.

My invention is not limited to the particular details of the construction of the embodiment illustrated and I contemplatethat variosu and other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore my intention that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lightweight portable vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) an elongated plastic housing formed from a pair of complementary mating casing halves; (b) each of said casing halves forming aside wall,

one-half of a bottom wall, and one-half of a top' wall; (c) a relatively thincentrally located half partition 6 extending a substantial distance inwardly from and integrally formed on each of said'casing halves;

(d) each of said inwardly extending half partitions including a front surface, a rear surface, and a narrow inwardly facing surface;

(e) a groove formed in each of said narrow inwardly facing surfaces;

(f) a sheet metal grill having a plurality of apertures formed therein;

(g) said grill having wall portions disposed in said recesses for securely holding said grill within said casing between said half partitions;

(h) a plurality of longitudinal inwardly directed parallel plastic ribs integrally formed on each of said casing halves, said ribs being integrally connected to the front surface of one of said half partitions and one of said casing side walls to securely brace said centrally located half partitions;

(i) an air inlet opening formed in said casing in front of said ribs;

(j) an electric motor and suction fan unit disposed within said housing behind said partition; means disposed against said partition and said motor fan unit so that said partition partially supports said motor fan unit;

(k) a filter bag having a closed end, side walls and an open end portion; and

(I) said filter bag side walls being arranged for engagement with said inwardly directed ribs, and said filter bag end wall being arranged for engagement with said grill so that air may enter said air inlet, pass through the side walls of said filter bag adjacent to said ribs and :also pass through the end wall of said filter bag adjacent to said grill, said ribs, partition and grill providing a rigid, compact construction and also forming a construction for achieving efficient filter bag use.

2. A lightweight portable vacuum cleaner comprising;

(a) an elongated plastic housing formed from a pair of complementary mating casing halves;

(h) each of said casing halves forming a side wall, one-half of a bottom wall, and one-half of a top wall;

(c) a relatively thin centrally located half partition extending a substantial distance inwardly from and integrally formed on each of said casing halves;

((1) each of said inwardly extending half partitions including a front surface, a rear surface, and a narrow inwardly facing surface;

(e) a plurality of inwardly directed plastic ribs integrally formed on each of said casing halves, said ribs being integrally connected to the front surface of one of said half partitions and one of said casing side walls to securely brace said centrally located half partitions;

(f) an air inlet opening formed in said casing in front of said ribs;

(g) a generally cylindrical electric motor and suction fan assembly; and

(h) a resilient gasket, said gasket having a generally cylindrical inner wall for receiving said generally.

cylindrical motor and fan assembly, a resilient front wall for abutting said partition, andtop, bottom and side surfaces formed to tightly fit the top, side and bottom walls of said casing halves, so that said gasket in combination with said partition partially supports said motor fan assembly.

3. A lightweight portable vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) an elongated plastic housing formed from a pair of complementary mating casing halves;

(b) each of said leasing halves forming a side wall,

one-half of a bottom wall, and one-half of a top wall; (c) a relatively thin centrally located half partition extending a substantial distance inwardly from and integrally formed on each of said casing halves;

((1) each of said inwardly extending half partitions including a front surface, a rear surface, and a narrow inwardly facing surface;

(e) a plurality of inwardly directed plastic ribs integrally formed on each of said casing halves, said ribs being integrally connected to the front surface of said one of said half partitions and one of said casing side walls to securely brace said centrally located half partitions;

(f) an air inlet opening formed in said casing in front of said ribs;

(g) a generally cylindrical electric motor and suction fan assembly;

(h) a resilient gasket, said gasket having a generally cylindrical inner wall for receiving said generally cylindrical motor and fan assembly, a resilient front wall for abutting said partition, and top, bottom and side surfaces formed to tightly fit the top, side and bottom walls of said casing halves, so that said gasket in combination "with said partition partially supports said motor fan assembly;

(i) inwardly extending screw-receiving lugs integrally formed in said casing halves, said lugs being arranged generally parallel to each other and integrally connected to said half bottom walls and top walls; and

(j) a plurality of screws extending through said screwreceiving lugs for connecting said casing halves to each other and for compressing said resiilent gasket between said motor and fan assembly and the inside walls of the casing in order to securely and resiliently hold said motor and fan assembly within said casing.

4 A lightweight portable vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a plastic housing formed from a pair of complementary mating casing halves;

(b) each of said casing halves forming a side-wall, one-half of a bottom wall, and one-half of a top wall;

(c) a relatively thin centrally located half partition extending a substantial distance inwardly from and integrally formed on each of said casing halves;

(d) each of said inwardly extending half partitions including a front surface, a rear surface, and a narrow inwardly facing surface;

(e) a groove formed in each of said narrow inwardly facing surfaces;

(f) a sheet metal grill having a plurality of apertures formed therein;

(g) said grill having wall portions disposed in said recesses for securely holding said grill within said casing between said half partitions;

(h) a plurality of inwardly directed plastic ribs integrally formed on each of said casing halves, said ribs being integrally connected to the front surface of one of said half partitions and one of said casing side walls to securely brace said centrally located half partitions;

(i) an air inlet opening formed in said casing in front of said ribs;

(-j) a generally cylindrical electric motor and suction fan assembly;

(k) a resilient gasket, said gasket having a generally cylindrical inner wall for receiving said generally cylindrical motor and fan assembly, a resilient front wall for abutting said partition, and top, bottom and side surfaces formed to tightly fit the top, side and bottom walls of said casing halves so that said gasket in combination with said partition partially supports said motor fan assembly;

(1) inwardly extending screw-receiving lugs integrally formed in said casing halves, said lugs being arranged generally parallel to each other and integrally connected to said half bottom walls and top walls;

(m) a plurality of screws extending through said screw-receiving lugs for connecting said casing halves to each other and for compressing said resilient gasket between said motor and fan assembly and the inside Walls of the casing in order to securely and resiliently hold said motor and fan assembly within said casing;

(11) an inwardly directed half rear wall integrally formed on each of said casing halves, said rear wall including a rear surface and an inner front surface;

(0) a plurality of ribs integrally connected to the front inner surface of said rear wall and the side wall of one of said casing halves; and

(p) a second resilient gasket positioned between said rear wall ribs and the rear portion of said fan and motor assembly for securely holding the rear portion of said fan and motor assembly within said casing.

5. A lightweight portable vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a plastic housing formed from a pair of complementary mating casing halves;

(b) each of said casing halves forming a side wall, one-half of a bottom wall, and one-half of a top wall;

(0) a large centrally located inwardly extending half partition integrally formed on each of said casing halves;

(d) an electric motor and suction fan disposed within said housing behind said parition;

(e) an inwardly directed half rear wall integrally formed on each of said casing halves, said rear wall including a rear surface and an inner front surface;

(f) an integrally molded plastic blower coupling, said coupling including a generally cylindrical wall, a generally flat bottom wall integrally connected to and tangent to said generally cylindrical wall, a generally fiat rear wall integrally connected to and perpendicular to said bottom wall and said cylindrical wall, a front wall integrally connected to said generally cylindrical wall arranged perpendicular to said bottom wall, a land extending upwardly from said generally cylindrical wall, a plurality of openings formed in said cylindrical wall, a plurality of openings formed in said front wall, and a hole formed in said bottom wall;

(g), each of said half rear walls including a narrow inwardly facing semicylindrical surface; and

(h) said molded plastic blower coupling being sandwiched between said casing halves with said semicylindrical inwardly facing surfaces of said rear wall positioned between the rear wall of said blower cou pling and the upwardly extending land.

6. A lightweight portable vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a plastic housing formed from a pair of complementary mating casing halves;

(b) each of said casing halves forming a side wall, onel-half of a bottom Wall, and one-half of a top wa (c) a large centrally located inwardly extending half partition integrally formed on each of said casing halves;

(d) an electric motor and suction fan disposed within said housing behind said partition;

(e) an inwardly' directed half rear wall integrally formedon each of said casing halves, said rear wall including a rear surface and an inner front surface;

(f) a plurality of ribs integrally connected to the front inner surface of said rear wall and the side wall of one of said casing halves;

(g) a second resilient gasket positioned between said rear wall ribs and the rear portion of said fan and motor assembly for securely holding the rear portion of said fan and motor assembly within said casing;

(h) an integrally molded plastic blower coupling, said coupling including a generally cylindrical wall, a

9 I 16 generally flat bottom wall integrally connected to References Cited and tangent to said generally cylindrical wall, a gen- UNITED STATES PATENTS erally flat rear wall integrally connected to and perpendicular to said bottom wall and said cylindrical 2182343 12/1939 Lofgren' wall, a front wall integrally connected to said gen- 5 1/ Pram? 15-344 erally cylindrical wall arranged perpendicular to said 2503918 Z Seyfned 23%117 bottom wall, a land extending upwardly from said 26 1 2 :Osbom et generally cylindrical wall, a plurality of openings 1/ 9 7 Brace 2,789,661 4/1957 Brace 15327 X formed 1n said cylmdrical wall, a plurality of open I 2,915,237 12/1959 Galiulo et al. 230-117 1ngs formed in said front wall, and a hole formed 10 2,986,765 6/1961 Ernolf et al. 15-412 X 1n sald bottom wall, 3 193 992 7 1 65 1 (i) each of said half rear walls including a narrow 9 Fmd ey et 15 323 X inwardly facing semi-cylindrical surface; and FOREIGN PATENTS (j) said molded plastic blower coupling being sand- 1299.817 6/1962 France wiched between said casing halves with said semil5 1366989 7/1964 France. cylindrical inwardly facing surfaces of said rear wall 9/1926 Great 'Britain' positioned between the rear wall of said blower coupling and the upwardly extending land. ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

2. A LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING; (A) AN ELONGATED PLASTIC HOUSING FORMED FROM A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTARY MATING CASING HALVES; (B) EACH OF SAID CASING HALVES FORMING A SIDE WALL, ONE-HALF OF A BOTTOM WALL, AND ONE-HALF OF A TOP WALL; (C) A RELATIVELY THIN CENTRALLY LOCATED HALF PARTITION EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE INWARDLY FROM AND INTEGRALLY FORMED ON EACH OF SAID CASING HALVES; (D) EACH OF SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING HALF PARTITIONS INCLUDING A FRONT SURFACE, A REAR SURFACE, AND A NARROW INWARDLY FACING SURFACE; (E) A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY DIRECTED PLASTIC RIBS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON EACH OF SAID CASING HALVES, SAID RIBS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO THE FRONT SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID HALF PARTITIONS AND ONE OF SAID CASING SIDE WALLS TO SECURELY BRACE SAID CENTRALLY LOCATED HALF PARTITIONS; (F) AN AIR INLET OPENING FORMED IN SAID CASING IN FRONT OF SAID RIBS; (G) A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL ELECTRIC MOTOR AND SUCTION FAN ASSEMBLY; AND (H) A RESILIENT GASKET, SAID GASKET HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL INNER WALL FOR RECEIVING SAID GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL MOTOR AND FAN ASSEMBLY, A RESILIENT FRONT WALL FOR ABUTTING SAID PARTITION, AND TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE SURFACES FORMED TO TIGHTLY FIT THE TOP, SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS OF SAID CASING HALVES, SO THAT SAID GASKET IN COMBINATION WITH SAID PARTITION PARTIALLY SUPPORTS SAID MOTOR FAN ASSEMBLY 